what to do with a year off before med. school?

[banana5]

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I know, this question is a long shot, but it doesn't hurt to think ahead. Here's my situation:

I'll be applying to med. schools during the summer following my senior year of college, which of course necessitates taking a year "off" before matriculating. My question has to do with what to do during this gap year.

I've done extensive research as an undergraduate and am the 2nd author of a neurology paper. I don't have any professional interest in neurology, though I recognize that this could change. However, I do see that having successfully worked in this lab (at a med. school) has resulted in some connections there. I don't know how useful they'll be since I haven't had to use them for anything yet.

During the year off I figure I'll end up doing more research - hopefully clinical - for lack of any higher-paying opportunities. If I think that I might be interested in cardiology, should I try to do cardiology research? I'm thinking along the lines of improving residency and fellowship opportunities.

If the answer is yes, the corollary to that question is where should I do it. I live next to a med. school that I have no interest in attending and that is affiliated with a hospital that I can't see myself wanting to practice in. I also live about an hour away from a city full of med. schools and hospitals where I'd want to work. If all else is equal, should I try to do the research in the city/school where I'd like to matriculate/practice? In other words, is it worth the annoying commute, or would the PI at the more local school know enough people in the field in the nearby-city that it wouldn't matter?

 

[HoboCommander]

You could also start studying for your Step I.

 

[banana5]

You could also start studying for your Step I.

Thanks for the insight.

It's either think along the lines that I proposed above, or just pick a lab out of a hat at a med. school that I pick out of a hat.

 

[mirrortest7]

Try to take at least some time to relax and enjoy yourself during your year off. Sure, do some research, make some $, whatever, but you'll have plenty of time to work your butt off once you're in med school and beyond. You are way early in the process to be worrying about making yourself an attractive residency and fellowship candidate. That will happen during med school and residency years. In retrospect, if I'd have had a year off between college and medical school, I would not have spent the majority of my time doing medicine-related stuff. Travel, pursue other interests, etc...this may be one of the only times when you have those freedoms.

Also, regarding Step I...not sure if the above post was in jest or not (hard to detect sarcasm online), but I hope it was. Do not start studying for Step I, that is just ridiculous.

 

[orientedtoself]

do cardiology research at your local med school/ university. do not tell them that you don't want to stay there! you want to have allies, not enemies.

 

[dragonfly99]

agree with oriented to self
do NOT
NOT
under any circumstances let it leak out that you don't want to stay where you are for med school.
It is OK that you don't , but don't broadcast that. If they directly ask you, I'd even be vague about that, and be complimentary about their/your school ("It's a great place that I'd be honored to be selected to attend").

If you get in to med school, it won't matter much what you do during your gap year. It might be nice to have some research on your resume, but what you do while IN med school will be more important...you can always do more research between your 1st and 2nd years of med school. Don't underestimate the difficulty of getting into medical school. Get your med school spot lined up, and then worry about temporary job before entering med school.